NY unemployment ID.me verification tips - using 2 devices made it work for me
Just wanted to share a quick tip for anyone struggling with the ID.me verification for NY unemployment. After 3 failed attempts and nearly giving up, I figured out something that worked for me. Try using 2 separate devices during the process - I used my laptop to go through the main ID.me steps, then my phone for uploading pictures of my license and doing the facial recognition part. Not sure why, but this combo seemed to work when nothing else did. Also, some important details I learned the hard way: - Place your license/passport on a gray or darker plain background when taking pictures (white backgrounds caused errors for me) - For facial recognition, make sure you're in a VERY well-lit area - Turn your phone brightness all the way up during the face scan Hope this helps someone else avoid the frustration I went through with the new 2025 verification requirements. Has anyone else found tricks that worked for them?
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Rachel Tao
omg thank u so much!!! i was stuck on this for 3 days n was about to give up on my claim. tried ur two device trick n it actually worked!!! the facial scan kept failing b4. NYSDOL should put these tips on their website smh
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Sayid Hassan
•So glad it worked for you! It's ridiculous how they implement these verification systems without clear instructions on how to get them to actually work.
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Derek Olson
Just to add some clarification on why this works - ID.me's facial recognition system often performs better with the higher-quality cameras on phones compared to laptop webcams. The system needs clear image definition to properly map facial features. Also, make sure you're removing glasses, hats, and excessive makeup when doing the scan. For document scans, the contrast between your ID and the background is critical - that's why the darker background works better than white. The system needs to clearly identify the edges of your documents to properly process them.
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Sayid Hassan
•Thanks for explaining! That makes sense about the camera quality. Do you know if there's a way to check if your verification was successful after completing it? The system just sent me back to the NY unemployment site without confirmation.
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Derek Olson
•Yes, after successful verification, you should receive an email confirmation from ID.me. If you log into your ID.me account separately, you should also see your verification status as complete. The NYSDOL system typically updates within 24-48 hours to show your identity as verified, but it can sometimes take up to 72 hours during high-volume periods.
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Danielle Mays
I TRIED THIS 5 TIMES AND IT STILL DOESN'T WORK!!! The facial recognition keeps saying "moved too much" even when I'm sitting completely still! This is RIDICULOUS! My benefits are on hold because of this stupid system and I can't pay my bills. Has anyone actually gotten through to a real person at NYSDOL about this problem??
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Roger Romero
•I was in the same boat last week, kept getting the "moved too much" error even though I was still as a statue. After days of trying to call NYSDOL with no luck, I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to an agent. They have this service where they wait on hold for you and call when an agent picks up. Saved me hours of frustration. The agent was able to override the ID.me issue after verifying my identity another way. Check out their demo video if you're curious how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE
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Anna Kerber
is it safe to upload ur ID to this website? seems sketchy to me. anybody had identity theft after using id.me?
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Niko Ramsey
•ID.me is actually the official identity verification partner for NYSDOL and several other government agencies. It's not some random third-party website. They use bank-level encryption to protect your data. I've been using it since 2023 for both unemployment and tax purposes without any issues. While no system is completely risk-free, it's as secure as any government verification process can be.
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Seraphina Delan
Another tip - I had to try different browsers! Chrome kept freezing during the ID.me process, but Firefox worked perfectly. Also, I found that natural light (not too bright) worked better than my bathroom lights for the facial scan. And make sure your face fills most of the frame but not too close either.
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Jabari-Jo
•This! The browser thing is real. I had to use Safari on my iPhone after Chrome and Edge both failed on my laptop. Weird system.
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Danielle Mays
So I have a similar problem but mine is worse - I got locked out completely after too many attempts! Now it says I have to do a video chat with a "trusted referee" but the wait time is 5+ hours!!! Has anyone done this video chat thing? Do they actually show up or am I wasting my day?
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Niko Ramsey
•The video chat referee option is legitimate and they do eventually connect with you. The wait times are unfortunately accurate - I waited about 4 hours last month. My recommendation is to join the queue early in the morning (they open at 8am ET) and have all your documents ready. You'll need two forms of ID and any supporting documents for name changes if applicable. Keep your device plugged in and volume up so you don't miss their call. Once connected, the verification itself only takes about 10-15 minutes.
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Sayid Hassan
Quick update - I had to do the whole process again today for my wife's claim and found something else that helps. If you have an iPhone, using the "scan document" feature in Notes app to capture your ID creates a much cleaner image than just taking a regular photo. The ID.me system accepted it immediately without any errors!
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Rachel Tao
•ooh thats smart! gonna tell my roommate this trick shes been struggling w/ her claim all week
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Jabari-Jo
i'm confused about something sorta related... after u verify with id.me do u still need to upload those wage forms? i did the id.me thing but now theres some message about quarterly wage verification?
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Derek Olson
•Yes, these are two separate requirements. ID.me verifies your identity, while the quarterly wage verification confirms your employment and income. For the wage verification, you need to upload your pay stubs or W-2 forms for the base period specified in your claim. This is part of the standard process for determining your benefit amount and preventing fraud. You should upload these documents through your NYSDOL account dashboard under the "Upload Documents" section.
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Seraphina Delan
I had my account completely locked after ID verification and it took FOREVER to fix. When I finally got someone on the phone they said it was because my married name on my license didn't match my birth name they had on file. So anyone with name changes should make sure all their identity documents match before starting this process!
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Sayid Hassan
•That's such a good point! I didn't even think about name change issues. The whole system seems designed to create problems rather than solve them. Thanks for sharing this tip!
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